Salute Tour brings Bronco mania to Brush fans

Broncos fever knows no age limits and for area kids, the chance to see cheerleaders and players in person made for a golden opportunity. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

For fans across Colorado who bleed orange and blue, the first annual Mile High Salute to Fans tour brought Broncos fever a little closer to home as players, cheerleaders and even Miles the Mascot made their way through towns and cities in an effort to graciously thank the Broncos fan-base for their support. Presented by U.S. Bank, the Bronco bus hit the road in April for a 20-city tour that took players and spirit leaders to the likes of Boulder, Longmont and Eaton to Brush, Fort Morgan, Limon, Burlington and Pueblo, ending in Glenwood Springs.

Residents from Brush's Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center made the journey to BHS on Tuesday to grab their own autographs and pictures with Denver Bronco cheerleaders and players. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

On Tuesday, April 2 the tour made a stop to the very northeast corner of the state in Julesburg before arriving in Brush at the home of the Beetdiggers where Broncos defensive tackles Kevin Vickerson and former Eaton Red Mitch Unrein took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures along with cheerleaders Jenna, Katie W and Denver’s most famous plush horse, Miles the Mascot.The Brush stop was organized with help from the City of Brush and Brush High School (BHS). Local radio station 1010 KSIR AM was on hand to dish out steals and deals during a prize drawing held at the BHS gym while many Brush students and faculty had the chance to be interviewed by Broncos media and give their own mile high salute.

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Former Beetdigger alums, such as area wrestling coach Aaron Quinlin, even had the chance to catch up with Unrein, who himself remembered vividly a high school match on BHS mats that ended with Unrein being pinned.For Quinlin, the chance to say hi to his fellow high school wrestling foe turned professional football player, who recognized Quinlin in an instant, was priceless. For the Broncos representatives who took time to get to know fans throughout Colorado face-to-face, the opportunity was not only an adventure but a great way to see the state.

The Denver Broncos own Kevin Vickerson stands with cheerleaders Jenna and Katie W. and teammate Mitch Unrein after signing a wealth of autographs and taking photos with fans who came to the first annual Mile High Salute Tour stop in Brush on Tuesday, April 2. (Katie Collins/News-Tribune)

“This is my first tour and right now, the best part has been seeing all the different places in Colorado and seeing our fan base,” said Kevin Vickerson. “They take time to travel to Denver to support us and it’s nice that we can come to them to say thanks.”“I was born and raised in a small town not far from here,” said Unrein, “so it has been great to show other kids from small areas that they can make it too.”BHS Athletic Director Jason Strauch also put perspective on the unique visit during a video interview with Broncos media where he noted, “It’s been great to get the chance to see these guys that we’ve watched play on television in person. They are hometown heroes to us and the kids were so excited to have them come right here to BHS.”